Understanding and Investing in Your Intellection Talent

On this Theme Thursday Season 4 webcast, Jim Collison, Gallup's Director of Talent Sourcing, and Maika Leibbrandt, Senior Workplace Consultant, talk about Intellection.

People exceptionally talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. Those with Intellection high have a great depth of consideration. They enjoy the process of bringing perspective through thinking. They are able to and drawn to processing information from every angle. They are contemplative, persistent, and intentional.

When Intellection is at its best it offers perspectives others may have missed, discovering insights that go beyond accepted truth. Intellection generates curiosity that leads to learning, development, and improvement. When Intellection is at its best it understands causes, connections, and consequences that lead to better work.

Do more in-depth discovery, research, or consideration opportunities that allow you to go deeper or process further about a subject such as focus groups, improvement initiatives, customer and product analysis. Do more of revisiting existing ideas, rather than creating new ones. You'll bring such depth to things that have time to percolate.

Ask for your best recipe for processing. For most people with Intellection it requires time but ask for what you need. Is it time, people, more information or out-loud conversation that creates your best environment for out loud thinking? Think about what you are doing when you have your best discoveries and ask for that. Ask for clarity when your feedback is requested. Ask if others just want an initial reaction or if they would like for you to give it some thought. Agree upon when you'll deliver your opinion and why it will be good for them to wait.

Worry less about being at your best on the fly. It's okay to offer greatness that extends beyond a fleeting moment. You can still participate in the moment without having to have all the answers. Worry less about being easily won over or convinced. You know the difference of something at face value and something with real thought behind it. You don't have to be quick to agree or disagree.

When working with someone high in Intellection, expect conscientiousness. There's a desire to do things well, to have a system for thinking through things, and to not take any idea lightly. Expect a depth of curiosity. They may help others discover things through their questions that go farther than most. Expect them to be interesting and interested.

For individuals with high Intellection, recognize a time when they noticed something others missed. They've likely elevated the understanding of something specific. Recognize their intellectual specialty. Recognize what they know a lot about. Think about how can you celebrate their expertise and thoughtfulness.

Stretch someone with high Intellection by positioning them as wisdom partners to others. Think about what they can advise or shed light on. Stretch them by asking them to consider a challenge the team currently faces and outline where opportunities to better-explore concepts might be.

When partnering with a person high in Intellection, make time to muse, discuss, explore without the expectation of moving something forward. Give them time and space to consider before you expect reaction and opinion. When partnering with them, share what you know, where you've been, and how you can get more.

If Intellection is one of your Dominant Themes, invest in it this week through the following challenge items:

• Listen to your thought-wheel. Spend 5-8 minutes every morning this week in active, alert silence. Pay attention to the thoughts you're having.
• Identify your best local thought partner. Invite them to discuss something specific, without expectation of solving or creating something.
• Translate your thoughts: What's the most interesting thing you've discovered lately? Write it in 140 characters or less.

If Intellection is not one of your Dominant Themes, invest in it this week through the following challenge items:

• Build yourself a checkpoint in your decision process. Before you make your next big purchase, gather data from 1 person you know, 2 consumer websites, and 3 customer reviews.
• You may rely more on your gut than your head. What was the last decision you felt certain of? Name how you reached that certainty and what benefit your process is to others.